Steadying device for vehicles.



E. A. SPERRY. STBADYING DEVIGE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.2, 1907.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED D110. 2, 1907.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

. .IIIILIIP. 0 W m m my. A J m W 6 m 1 m H 'm Im i UNITED STATES I T OFFICE.

ELMER A. SPERRY, OF BROOKLYN NEW YORK.

s'reanvme nnvrcn non VEHICLES.

No. 907,907.v

Application filed December 2, 1907. Serial Nb. 404,767.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

steadying bodies susceptible of movement and especially susceptible ofangular movement or movement about a point or axis,

. and it consists in so mounting one or more gyroscopic appliances upon such body as to derive t erefrom opposing control, consisting in an effort opposed to a given motion which is of sufficient ma nitude to extinguish such movement in who e or part.

To illustrate this invention it is shown as being mounted upon a vehicle, in the instance where one only of such gyroscopic appliances is so mounted as to effectively oppose lateral tip sudden tipping over ofsuch vehicle.

Figure 1 represents the side elevation, partially in section, of a vehicle equipped with one of the gyroscopic appliances. Fig. 2

shows a longitudinal section, showing the gyroscope pivoted to the frame of the truck with some parts removed; Fig. 3-is .a view of a portion of the engine, its fly-wheel anda part of the gyroscope driving mechanism. Fig. 4 shows details.

It is well known that a revolvingfi -wheel tends to exert gyrostatic influence ut the popular notion that such a wheel exerts measurable gyrostatic effect is erroneous.

.The wheel, to exert control of any magnitude worth considering, must be peculiarly mounted and so organized as to be capable of angular motion in a dplane at right angles to the motion impresse or received from the body, the oscillations of which it-is desired to damp, control or extin ish. This is re? gardless of'the plane inw ich the wheel rotates; where one is mounted for full realization of gyrostatic control, the plane in which the "wheel revolves, should be selected with regard to other motions of the vehicle. For instance, if the vehicle is to be easily steered in a horizontal plane, the wheel should also run in such plane on a vertical axis. If lateral oscillations are to be controlled, the frame on which the wheel spins should be pivoted ina transverse plane and if the osci-l-,-

sprmgs (9-9).

provided with suitable seats, indicated at ing of the body or truck and thus prevent ateral vibration, tipping, or

lations are to be extinguished and their energy absorbed by the gyroscope, the recessional movements orl-swin of the W eel frame should be made to de iver power to the mass in a longitudinal direction-i11 other words the appliance should include means for absorbing the power developed by the precessional swing of the wheel frame.

In the embodiment of my invention selected to illustrate its application, a vehicle such, for instance, as an automobile, may,

rest upon wheels (6) and axles (7), there being between truck (8') and the axle suitable The automobile may be (10) and provided with means for steering the vehicle in a horizontal plane, consisting of the wheels (6) and the usual steering'handle (11). Located in about the center of gravity of the mass of the vehicle, more particularly that portion of the sprmgs, is mounted a fly-wheel (12), oted to the side frames (13) of the truck, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.v By means of a swinging frame (14) on which the vertical axle (15) of the s inning wheel is suitably journaled, as at 15) and also the thrust bearing 17 the upper journal. This wheel is driven by any su table means, as for instance an electric motor mounted, as for instance upon swinging frame (14). As another means of driving such wheel and as illustrating a variable power connection between the drlvin motor of the car (18) and the spinning whee (12) is ashaft (19) journaled upon the motor frame at (20) receiving its powerjin any suitable manner, as for instance by the belt (21) and at the other end delivering its power through a' bevel gear (22) to a vertical shaft (23), which is so connected with the fiy wheel as to permit of its to and fro movement through considerable an le. -()ne means of accomplishing this is illustrated by belt 24 which connects wheels (25) and (26), the latter being loosely mounted below the fly-wheel hub (12), by transmitting power thr'ou h friction engagement therewith on a impingement, being brought about by the centripetal force of the little governor (27)- fastenedto a cross piece on the vertical shaft ofwlieel (12) and spinningthcrewith. The friction between the wheel (26), or the driving engagement of this wheel with wheel (12) is released by the centrifugal action of the weights (27) of the governor. .Thus the the vehicle above piv- (16), including located above line of speed of the ily-wheel (12) is automatically limited. The shaft 19 may be moved to and from the vertical shaft of the flywheel (12) by its frame (28) being loosely mounted under the side frame (13) of the truck and arranged to be thrown back and forth by link (29) working on longitudinal shaft (30) .connected with a suitable hand control wheel (21).

whereby the power driving belt may be tightened or loosened, or rendered inactive,

' opposite side of the su porting journal 20, as

between the end of s aft (19) and the back end of the thimble, supporting the belt By means of this organization spasmodic spurts in speed on the part of the. motor (18) are prevented. from reaching the fly-wheel by the governor (27) on the one hand, while on the other the constant slowdowns or stoppin of the motor are pre- I trol.

somewhat less than 200 bs. in weight, it can e5.

' tralizin vented from retar ing the wheel by the unidirectional transmission mechanism.

The gyrosco e frame (14) sup orting as it does the iiy-wdeel (12) journale thereon, is preferably pivoted to the truck at a point above its center of gravity, thereby permit ting it to perform t -e function of a pendulum upon its ivots 1313. To absorb power develope by the swinging motions of the gyrosco e, any connected mechanism may e emp oyed, as for instance a dash pot-on dash potsor cylinders (35)(35) the pis tons of which are suitably driven by lever (36), connected with the swinging frame 14 by pitman (37). Suitably connected at any point with the swinging frame 14 is a cendevice which in the present in stance is located in the bottom of the dash pots and serves the double purpose of more quickly returning the frame to its central position when more powerful influences are absent, and to limit through the cushioning action of such springs, the precessional movement of the gyroscope.

The use and operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoing; it may however be ointed out that a Comparatively li ht whee which will easily fit in between t 'e sides of the standard chassises when spinning with a very large mar in of safety, is found to exert very powerfu con- For instance, sup ose this wheel to be easily be shown that under proper conditions some? of its precessional movements, it can be made to develop considerably more than four (4) ft. tons of energy, which is available for steadyin sidewise oscillation and revention of the ve icle as a whole from su denly tipping over, the practical results of the o eration being that when one or both 0' the wheels on one side of the vehicle are off the roadbed, they are at first hanging inmid-air by the gyroscopic action to the extent of energy named, which exerts its force through quite an intervalfor it is true that the two side wheels may be run out over an embankment without ti in the vehicle, provided they are swerved aolr onto the roadbed before too great la se of time. Wheel 12 is ept spinning through the mechanism described, either from its own motor or from the vehicle motor. The power may be detached at will; the motor may be run above or below its normal speed without interfering with the regular rotation of fly-wheel 12, by means of the governor 27. on the one hand and the uni-directional device 31 on the other. The powcrdelivered to the gyroscopic device is quickly and readily absorbed by the dash pots or cylinders 3535 which serve also to sufficiently retard and properly arrest the precessional movements of the swinging frame 14.

. The word gyroscope as used in this specification relates to the wheel 12 and its frame 14; to be strictly accurate these parts considered by themselves constitute a gyrostat but when in place on a vehicle andunder such angular movement thereof as will set up precessional movementsv of the parts, the combination then constitutes a gyroscope in the true sense of the term.

It will be readily understood that the precise location and combination of the parts herein shown for the purposes of illustration of one embodiment of my invention, need not in all cases be followed but some elements maybe omitted and others be substituted therefor within the scope of the claims and the invention extends to such use.

I claim: i

1. In a wheeled vehicle a dirigiblo running gear for the vehicle, a spring supported body for the vehicle and a "yroscope pivoted to the body of such vehicle.

2. In a wheeled vehicle a dirigible running gear for the vehicle, a spring supported body or the vehicle and a gyroscope pivoted to the body of such vehicle upon a transverse axis.

3. In a wheeled vehicle a dirigible running gear for the vehicle, a spring supported body forthe vehicle and a roscope pivoted to the body of such vehic e, the rotor of the gyroscope being adapted to spin on a normally vertical axis.

4. In a wheeled vehicle a dirigible running gear for the vehicle, a spring supported body 'for the vehicle and a yroscope pivoted to the body of such vehic e, on a vertical line paslsing near the center of gravityof the In a wheeled vehicle a dirigible running gear forthe vehicle, a spring supported body for the vehicle and a gyroscope pivoted to the body of such vehicle, the gyrating axis being above the center of gravity of the rotor.

6. In a wheeled vehicle a dirigible running ear for the vehicle, a spring supported body or the vehicle and a gyroscope pivoted to the body of such vehicle, the gyroscope having a precessional movement, and means for returning such movement.

7. In a wheeled vehicle, a gyroscope pivoted to the vehicle and adapted to spm on a vertical axis, a source of power upon the ve-' hicle and a flexible power connection from the source to the gyroscope. 8. In a wheeled vehicle, a gyroscope piv-' oted to the vehicle, and adapted to spm on a vertical axis, a source of power upon the vehicle and a variable power connection from the source to the gyroscope.

9. In a wheeled vehicle a dirigible running gearfor the vehicle, a spring supportedbody for the vehicle and a gyroscope pivoted to the body of such vehicle, the gyroscope having a precessional movement, and means for limitin the recessional movement.

10. n a w eeled vehicle, 'a gyroscope pivoted to the vehicle and adapted to spm on a vertical axis, a source of power upon the vehicle, a connection from the source to the gyroscope and means for automatically interrupting the connection.

11. In a wheeled vehicle a dirigible running ear for the vehicle,.a spring supported body or the vehicle anirlia roscope pivoted to the body of such "vehic e, and a centralizing device for the pivoted member of the gyroscope.

12. In a wheeled vehicle, agyroscope pivoted to the vehicle and adapted to spm on a vertical axis, and means for automatically limiting the speed of the,gyroscope.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ELMER A. SPERRY.

Witnesses:

E. A. SPERR'Y, Jr.

. E. G. SPERRY. 

